[Magdalen] Easter Vigil Commentary.

[Marion Thompson]

We may be looking for a new thurifer after the last days.  He turned up too late to do his duty on Palm Sunday.  And last night?  Oy.   We were doing the Vigil at our sister church. Pascal Candle was fine.  Then he sat in the choir stalls for awhile.  Then vanished.  Moment of truth when the altar should be censed.  Nada.  Our priest finally went looking and after a bit he emerged, but events had moved on.   So he stood by that door looking spare.  Then just as the gates were closed for communion, he scuttled into the sanctuary, uh, to do what exactly?  Stood there, in the way, swinging a non-fuming thurible until the gate opened again after., then he left.

Marion, a pilgrim

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From: cantor03--- via Magdalen
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Subject: [Magdalen] Easter Vigil Commentary.




Musings:




I don't go out at night for a local Easter Vigil anymore, so I watched (TV) the entirety
of the Vigil from the (USA) National Shrine/Basilica in Washington, DC. TheLiturgy was a prime example of what Easter Vigils should strive to be.  TheBasilica Choir was larger (about 50) than usual and sang splendidly.  There was
 an orchestra of about 25 and the grand organ in the rear gallery never soundedbetter.
 





There were some 50 priests seated behind the altar and they concelebratedwith the Papal Nuncio who was the chief celebrant, and then advanced into thenave to make multiple stations for distribution of Communion to the packedcrowd in this largest of USA RC churches.






The transition from the semi-darkened church to the blaze of lights at theGloria was very well done.  The parts of the Ordinary were strongly tropedand very effectively so by the splendid choir.  The final offering by theBasilica Choir was the "Halleluia Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah."The local Procathedral usually throws in the Halleluia Chorus at Easter,and everyone loves it.  Corny?  Not at all.






I'm Anglican enough not to like the shimmering gold vestments of the deaconsand celibrant/bishop.  Give me old fashioned medieval style brocade. 





Therewas plenty of incense even in such a large venue.






The young deacon who sang the Lumen Christi and the Exsultet  had a pleasanttenor voice, but no one ever seems to train the selected deacon in the plainchant,and there was the usual mechanical stress on every syllable of the text. 







The recessional hymn was "Jesus Christ is Risen Today," and it was immediatelyfollowed by a grand rendition of the Widor Tocatta from his Fifth Organ Symphony.It was a fitting conclusion.



David Strang.